Knowing Where to Look for Online Deals

I recently went on an after-Christmas shopping trip with my mom and sister. Before we could head out the door, I had to take one last crucial step: search the Web for coupons. As I quickly scanned my Google feed, I could tell my mom and sister were anxious to get to the shopping and were growing impatient. Within a few seconds however, I found what I was looking for, and we were on our merry way. And that last-minute effort saved all of us an extra 15% on one of our purchases that day.

It's no secret that coupons and coupon redemption have been on the rise for awhile. However, more and more manufacturers are offering additional deals exclusively online. You just have to look for them. I have always used paper coupons and will continue to use them as long as they are available to me. However, I find myself "Googling" and searching manufacturers’ websites for additional coupons and offers, for both my in-store and online purchases. In addition to going directly to the manufacturer's websites, there are several sites dedicated to sharing coupon codes used by other shoppers. And not to pat myself on the back, but I have found some amazing deals this way. And all because I spent a few extra minutes finding what was already available for the taking. Promotionalcodes.com and RetailMeNot.com are a couple of my favorites and a good place to start a search for online deals.

So before you head off to your favorite store, or push submit for that online purchase, take a moment to see if you are getting the best deal you can.

What about you? Any other money-saving tips you can share?